Surface array

[Laura Stone]

I'm trying to get a surface array to work on a 3D surface and instead of scaling and distorting the array objects as I think it is supposed to VW 2015 is overlapping them.

The file is too big to add so I've included a pdf

[James Russell]

It is possible, see attached.

I think your issue must have something to do with your base surface shape.

I've used a sphere and parts from a cone that have been converted to nurbs surfaces.

I'm more interested in how you've managed to do yours...

J

[Benson Shaw]

Horsing around with a similar setup.

Base Surface: Two concentric circles on Layer Plane. Convert to NURBS. Raise z of smaller one. Loft Surface.

Source object: 2 Extruded hexagons.

@Laura - I think the x' and y' offsets need adjusting, and toggle through the Edge Condition options near bottom of OIP. If the offsets are correct, the array should not overlap.

@James - I have best success with hex grids if the source profile is two units with one coincident edge. This fills the interstitial areas with rotated object instead of space.

Single hex can also work if offsets and shifts are adjusted.

HTH

-B

Edited March 13, 2015 by Benson Shaw

[James Russell]

Double offset objects make a great result! What a great tip, thanks.

[PVA - Admin]

Also: I believe that if you use symbols for the array objects, that they will not be distorted/scaled to fit on the surface. If they are just extrudes or raw 3D geometry, they then will be.

I have also seen messier results if the base shape came from an extraction performed on an existing solid face, this shouldn't matter, but im looking into now and seeing if bugs can be parsed out of it.

[Laura Stone]

Thanks all,

First I tried doing the loft surface for my base shape (the original one was a curve extracted from a cone with the top lopped off). No joy.

Then I removed the base from my array objects (they were solid additions). That did the trick with a few adjustments.

Also tried the double hex but found it more difficult to control.

So in conclusion must use extrudes and not solid additions.

Laura

[Benson Shaw]

I see the same thing with the Solid Addition, even when that is converted to a generic solid.

Workaround is an extrude within the extrude.

-B

Edited March 13, 2015 by Benson Shaw

[vincetang20]

anyone know how to use surface array? if I make a simple rectangle and extrude it to make it 3d , surface array doesnt work? is there another way to make your base model 3D without using extrude?

 

Thanks

Vince

[Jonathan Pickup]

surface array needs two parts, the surface and the array item(s). the surface has to be a nurbs surface. the array items can be extrudes, solid models, (or Jim suggested, symbols).

[AlanW]

@vincetang20Hi, you can use a variety of base surfaces. Here i have drawn a few different objects and different base surfaces and hit Model Surface array after selecting both objects an I get these results.

Maybe this is not what you are after???

Certainly as Jonathon said if you were after a curved surface you would need to use a Nurbs surface as the base.

Edited February 28, 2017 by Alan Woodwell